Box construction



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Box QQNSTRUCTION Fil'ed July 1, 955

Bernard 6. Mec/'er Edward J. Marchinkaski 1N VEN TOR.

Box CONSTRUCTION Bernard C. Mecier, Rutland, and Edward J. Marchinkoski, West Rutland, Vt.

Application `luly 1, 1955, Serial No. 519,552

1 Claim. (Cl. 217-44) This invention generally relates to an improvement in box construction, and more specifically relates to that type of cylindrical box generally known as a cheese box.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved box construction preferably constructed of wood and of a collapsible nature to reduce shipping space but which is also strong and simple in construction as well as being relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a box construction including a cylindrical perimetrical wall constructed of a plurality of edge-to-edge panels that are interconnected by a pair of flexible metallic bands that are embedded in end grooves in the panels, thereby forming a wall which may be conformed to various shapes and various sizes.

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide a box construction in accordance with the preceding objects wherein end portions of the flexible band members are of doubled thickness for engagement with the remote panels of the Wall, thereby retaining the panels in edge to edge relationship and permitting the walls of the box to be formed in a straight line for shipment or storage for use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box construction of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of one panel utilized in the wall construction of the box of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3 3 of Figure 1 illustrating the construction and relationship of the panels, connecting strap and top member with its depending ange;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure 3 illustrating the relationship of the top member, depending flange thereon, upper end of the panels and the interconnecting strap; and

Figure 5 is an exploded group perspective View illustrating the relationship between the panels and the interconnecting strap.

With reference to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the box construction of the present invention including a cylindrical perimetrical Wall 12 having a top 14 and a similar bottom 16, each of which are provided with inwardly extending cylindrical flanges 18 for telescopic engagement over the wall 12 for engagement with the end edges thereof.

nited States Patent O Frice The wall 12 is constructed of a plurality of edge-toedge panels 20 having inwardly extending grooves 22 in the ends thereof. An elongated flexible strap or band 24 is disposed in the grooves 22 substantially as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 for joining the adjacent panels 20 together in edge-to-edge and slightly angular relation. Each end of the flexible strap 24 is provided with a reversely bent doubled portion 26 for engagement in the grooves 22 wherein the strap 24 will be retained in the grooves 22 with the doubled portion 26 in locking engagernent with the walls of the grooves 22. The doubled end portions 26 are forced into the grooves which will securely retain the strap 24 within the grooves for maintaining the panels 20 in adjacent relation. The portions 26 are disposed in the outer ends of the grooves in the remote panels for permitting the panels to be disposed in at condition and when the panels are disposed to form a cylindrical wall, the portions 26 will be disposed adjacent each other as shown in Figure 3.

The various elements of the present invention may be constructed of any suitable material, but the entire device is preferably made of wood, and each panel or section 20 may be of any desirable size but preferably is 5A6" thick, 11S/16 Wide and 7 long, wherein a box formed from this type of panels together with a steel or metallic band will form a cheese box of acceptable size. It will be understood that this type of wooden box may be utilized for various purposes, such as packaging fruits, eggs or the like. The reversely bent portion 26 rigidly securing the band 24 to the grooves 22 will permit the entire assembly to be retained in proper relationship and permit the assembly to be fastened in a rigid and assembled relationship.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A cheese box for receiving generally cylindrical cheeses comprising a bottom member having an upstanding continuous edge flange, a top member having a depending continuous edge ange, a peripheral wall extending be tween the top and bottom members with the flanges telescoping over said wall, said wall including a plurality of independent panels disposed in edge to edge abutting engagement, and means releasably retaining said panels in edge to edge relation, each of said panels having a groove in each end edge thereof, said retaining means including a iiexible metal strap disposed in said grooves, said strap having doubled free end portions, said groove being substantially equal in width to the thickness of the strap whereby the doubled end portions of the strap will rigidly and Itrictionally engage said groove when forced into the groove of remote panels for retaining the panels in assembled relation, the exibility of said strap permitting the panels to be disposed in angular relation thus permitting the panels to form said peripheral wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 169,841 Prutzmann Nov. 9, 1875 843,816 Hitch Feb. 12. 1907 1,522,231 Dorion Ian. 6, 1925 

